Portable bed.



PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

W. J. CURRY.

PORTABLE BED. APPLICATION FILED JAN. '9, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

10 MODEL.

Witnesses Attorneys THE Nth-R121 PETERS c0. umowu-mon \VASl-HNGTUMDJQ PATEN'TED APR. 28, 1903.; W. J. CURRY. PORTABLE BED.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

30 MODEL.

n UHL 7% Inventor,

Witnesses Attorneys ATlENT Nrrnn Mm FFlCEt PORTABLE BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,408, dated April 28, 1903. Application filed January 9, 1902. Serial No. 89,024. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM JAMIsoN CURRY, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Kamloops, county of Yale, Province of British Columbia, Canada, (now in Toledo, county of Lucas, State of Ohio,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Beds; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a portable bed for use in camping out, in military campaigns, by hunter's, trappers, and, in short, wherever such a bed may be useful or advantageous.

My object is to produce a bed which shall fold into a small compass with a minimum expenditure of time and labor in packing and unpacking it, shall be of the lightest possible construction, cheap to manufacture, and so strong as to be practically unbreakable in service.

A further object of my invention is to proter, thus shortening the necessary length of the body portion.

A further object of my invention is to produce a bed which can be readily converted into a litter or stretcher by the insertion of proper carrying-arms, while at the same time the bed may be supported at a slight elevation above the ground. I

My invention comprises a framework of individual pieces, the longest of which, reaching from head to foot of the bed, are separable in the middle, so that the portions when taken apart are each individually of approximately the same length as the end pieces of the frame. In this construction the canvas is supported by the separable side pieces, which are made cylindrical and provided at their ends with ratchet-wheels adapted to engage with ratchets upon the end pieces, so that by suitably revolving the separable parts in their sockets the canvas carried thereby may be rolled and suitably stretched thereon.

I have shown a preferred form of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in wl1ich- Figure l is a plan view of a bed embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of an end piece. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the separable side piece of the frame. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the side pieces of the bed when taken apart and ready for rolling up. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the legs which is adapted to be used as a stretcher-arm. Fig. Sisa partly-sectional side view of the head-piece, showing the pillow-frame in position. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bed when rolled and packed in suitable condition for portage. Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective View of a corner of the bed, showing it as adapted to be used as a stretcher; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of a modified form of separable joint.

The same numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The main frame of the bed is made, prefererably, of hard wood, and consists, as shown, of two rather heavy end pieces 12 13, which stretch from side to side at the ends of the bed, and of two cylindrical, preferably tapered, side pieces 14 15, adapted to fit in sockets 16 in the end pieces. The side pieces 14 1 15 are made separable in the middle by a ferrule-joint 17. The side pieces 14 and 15 have nailed to them by appropriate fastenings a strip of canvas 18, as best shown in Fig. 6,

said canvas having gouges 19 in the center thereof for enabling the separation of the ferrule-joint 17, and, further, there are gouges 20, formed near the ends of the said strip, adjacent to the bars 14 and 15, for a purpose to be presently described. The center of the strip will preferably be reinforced by anextra thickness of canvas 21. The ends 22 of the pieces 14E and 15 are adapted to turn in cylindrical sockets 16 in the ends of the crossbars 12 and 13, as heretofore described, and adjacent to these ends 22 are secured ratchetwheels 23, which are adapted to engage with pawls 24, carried by the pieces 12 and 13, so that upon rotating the cylindrical pieces 14 and 15 the canvas is rolled or wrapped thereon so as to stretch it to the required extent, and it is held in position when so stretched by the pawls 24 engaging with the ratchet-wheels 23. The frame thus constructed is supported upon legs 25 of suitablelength, which are in-' serted into sockets 26, formed in the end pieces 12 and 13. The canvas is doubled at the ends, as shown at 26 in Fig. 4, and provided with eyes 27 and hooks 28, which may be hooked into the eyes 29 upon. the end pieces 12 and 13.

The ferrule-joint 17 is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 5 and is formed, preferably, of metallic sleeves 30 31, which interlock with eachotherendwise and have, further, an axial interlocking device consisting of a pin 32 upon the inner ferrule and a slot 33 upon the outer one, adapted to slide thereover, so that the two halves of the bar are compelled to rotate simultaneously. It will be observed that the sleeves 3O 31 are each made large enough at their distant ends to embrace the entire section of the halves of the bar 14, the sleeve 31 being recessed, as shown at 34, at a point midway between its ends. By this arrangement the entire section of the wood forming the material of the bar 14 is utilized at this point.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modification of these ferrules, wherein the two halves of the bar 14, corresponding to the bar 14, (shown in Fig. 5,) are made larger than is necessary to support the weight adapted to rest upon them in order that they may be recessed, as at 35, to admit the ferrule-sleeves 30 31, so as to enable a smooth joint to be formed, the ferrule in this case sitting flush with the surface of the wood'at all points; but inasmuch as this increases the weight of the'bed to some extent without increasing its strength I prefer to use the form shown in Fig. 5, wherein the edges of the ferrules slightly project above the surface of the wood in orderto economize in weight.

My improved pillow device is supported entirely by the cross-piece 13 at the head of the bed, and it consists of a pair of triangular bent-wire frames 36, (shown in elevation in Fig. 8,) upon which canvas 39 is adapted to be stretched, the ends 36 of the wire 36 being brought together below and fitting into appropriate sockets 37, formed in the end piece of the bed. To retain the canvas in stretched position, there are provided bracewires 40 41, which are looped around eyes 42 in the upper corners of the frame 36 and hooked into staples 43, attached at each side to the ends of the cross-piece, as best shown in'Fig. 1.

In order to adapt the bed to be used as a stretcher, there are provided upon the under sides of the end pieces 12 and 13 cleats 44, having circular eyes 45, adapted to fit the body portion of the legs 25, and upon the side bars 14 and 15 are placed loops46, which may be of leather, canvas, or other strong and light material, in which the ends 47 of the legs 25 are adapted to be inserted in the manner shown in detail in Fig. 10. By this arrangement the legs 25 constitute arms by which the bed, now forming a stretcher or litter, maybe raised by two men, one standing at either end thereof, and in order to prevent the body of a person resting on the bed from touching the ground when the litter is set down there will ordinarily be provided a set of shorter legs 48 to be inserted in the sockets 26 in this instance to replace the legs 25.

When preparing the bed for packing and portage, the bars 14 and 15 will be separated at the ferrules and folded together in the manner shown by Fig. 6. The brace-rods 4O 41 of the pillow-frame having been unhooked from the staples 43 by slightly stretching the canvas 39 and folded against the wire frames 36, the pillow and frames will then be rolled together and placed, together with the end pieces 12 13 and the legs 25 and 48, side by side, so that the whole may be rolled together and inserted into a convenient packing-bag 49, when the bed will assume the form shown in Fig. 9. When being unpacked for use, the process will be reversed, the assembling process having been sufficiently described.

It will be seen that by this construction I gain the great advantage of having a bed which combines lightness and strength and all in a manner to dispense withinconvenient crossed legs, such as have been in common use, and particularly with any central legs which were heretofore rendered necessary by the factthat no separable joint was provided at the center of sufficient strength to support the weight of a sleeper. At the same time the bed is shortened by the provision of the pillow-frame, which extends rearwardly over the end of the bed and provides simultaneously a yielding support for the head which has all the advantages of the ordinary pillow, while-being of greatly less bulk and weight.

The advantages of my improved construction will be obvious from the above description.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts, while their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. 'Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. A pillow for a portable bed comprising two wire frames removably attached to intermediate points on the head-piece of the frame, flexible material stretched between them, and diagonally-transverse brace-rods connecting the ends of said frames with the ends of the head-piece so as to stretch said material.

2. A portable bed comprising a pair of end IIO pieces having horizontal and vertical sockets therein, a pair of side pieces adapted to fit in said horizontal sockets, a sheet of flexible material stretched between said end and side pieces, a set of socket-pieces attached to the under side of the end pieces, a set of straps embracing the side pieces near the ends thereof, and a set of leg-bars adapted to fit into said vertical sockets to form legs or to be inserted into said socket-pieces and straps in horizontal position to support the bed-frame as a stretcher.

3. A portable bed comprising end pieces having sockets therein, side pieces having a central separable joint and flexible material attached thereto and adapted to fit and turn in said sockets, gouges in said flexible material opposite the joint, and a reinforcing-piece of material extending from side to side of the bed between said gouges and attached to each of the four sections of said side pieces.

4. A portable bed consisting of end pieces having horizontal and vertical sockets therein, side pieces adapted to fit and turn in said horizontal sockets and to be secured against removahand flexible material attached to said side pieces independently, ratchet-wheels on the ends of said side pieces, pawls upon the end pieces adapted to engage with said wheels, and leg-bars adapted to fit in said vertical sockets in the end pieces.

5. A portable bed consisting of a framework having transverse end pieces in combination with a pillow comprising a framework attached to the head-piece of the bed and flexible material stretched thereon, and transverse diagonal brace-rods connecting the ends of the framework with the ends of the headpiece.

6. A pillow for a portable bed comprising supporting means attached to intermediate points of the head-piece and flexible material supported thereby and extending rearwardly so as to overhang said head-piece.

7. The combination of a bed comprising transverse head and foot pieces, side pieces connected to them at their ends, and a pillow comprising supporting means attached to said head-piece and extending rearwardly beyond the body of the bed.

8. In abed, the combination of a transverse end piece having socket-apertures in its upper side, a pillow comprising a pair of wire frames each consisting of a rod bent triangularly and having its ends brought together below and bent parallel to one another and adapted to be removably inserted into said socketapertures, and a piece of flexible material stretched between the middle members of said frames.

9. A pillow for a portable bed comprising a pair of wire frames each consisting of a rod bent triangularly and having its ends brought together below and bent parallel to one another, said ends being adapted to fit into suitable socket-apertures formed in the bed, a piece of flexible material stretched between the middle members of said frames, and a plurality of brace-rods attached to the upper part of each of said frames and adapted to be connected diagonally and transversely with the head portion of the bed, whereby to hold said flexible material extended.

10. A pillow for aportable bed comprising a pair of wire frames each consisting of a rod bent triangularly and having its ends brought together below and bent parallel to one another, said ends being adapted to flt into suitable socket-apertures formed in the bed, a piece of flexible material stretched between the middle members of said frames, and a pair of brace-rods pivotally mounted at the corners of each of said triangular frames and adapted to extend diagonally and transversely of the bed and to be removably attached to the bed-frame, substantially as described.

11. The combination of a bed having transverse head and foot rails, the former having sockets therein at an intermediate point thereof and side rails connected thereto at their ends, of a pillow comprising a pair of frames each formed of a rod bent triangularly and having its ends brought together at the lower side and bent downwardly and extending into said sockets, and a piece of flexible material stretched between the middle members of said frames.

12. The combination of a bed having transverse head and foot rails, the former having sockets therein at an intermediate point thereof and side rails connected thereto at their ends, of a pillow comprising a pair of frames each formed of a rod bent triangularly and having its ends brought together at the lower side and bent downwardly and extending into said sockets, a piece of flexible material stretched between the middle members of said frames, and diagonal transverse braces connecting the upper part of each of said frames with the respective ends of said head-piece.

13. The combination of a bed having transverse head and foot rails, the former having sockets therein at an intermediate point thereof and side rails connected thereto at their ends, of a pillow comprisinga pair of frames each formed of a rod bent triangularly and having its ends brought together at the lower side and bent downwardly and extending into said sockets, a piece of flexible material stretched between the middle members of said frames, eyes formed on the ends of the headpiece, and a pair of diagonal braces pivotally mounted at the corners of each of said triangular frames and having hooks formed on their opposite ends adapted to be engaged with said eyes, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J AMISON CURRY.

Witnesses:

A. WEOKERT, H. O. NICHOLAS.

ICO 

